Rim for vehicle wheels



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R. S. BRYANT. A RIM FOR VEHICLE WHEELS.

ORIGINAL FILED Nov. 23, 1912. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 av d m X I A ma Y? 2 Q @Jff lf I l f 4f? 1 w T1 Patented Dec. 26, i922.

RICHARD S. BRYANT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, SSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 THE STANDARD PARTS COMPANY, 02E' CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPGRATION OF OHM).

RIM FUR VEHICLE WHEELS.

Application filed November 23, 1912, Serial No. 733,094. Renewed January 21, 1918. Serial No. 213,107.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that L'RICHARD S. BRYANT, a citizen of lthe United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rims for Vehicle lVheels, of' which `the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to vehicle Wheels and has for its general object the provision of an improved forni of rim whereby the removal, repair, and replacement of a pneumatic tire may be facilitated without impairing' the reliability of the .construction or rendering the saine either ponderous or complicated. Theliability of pneumatic tires to puncture and other accidents renders it necessary that the tire be easily removable from the rim upon which it is carried and yet be securely attached to said rim under all conditions of fuse.

It is the object ofrthis invention to provide a rim which will permit ready access to the tire f'or purposes of repair, even though that tire has become firmly adherent thereto, and this, without detracting from the ease of carrying an extra rim with a fully inflated tire, or adding to the difficulty of applying that rim to the wheel upon which it is to be used. ril`his object is attained by forming the side flanges of the rim removable troni the body of the rim in .such wise thatin case it be desired to repair the tire. it is necessary merely to remove the body of the rim from the flanges without removing those flanges f'roin the tire, suitable expedieiits being also provided for withstanding the strain ot the parts both when on and oil' the wheel.

General-ly speaking,` my invention ina-y be defined as consisting of the combinations and constructions recited in the claims hereto annexed and illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application, wherein: Fig. l is a side-elevational View of a vehicle wheel having a rim of inyinvention; Fig. 2, a transverse cross-sectional view through a portion oi the rim and tire and through one of the clamps whereby the. rim is held upon the. wheel; Fig. 3, a detail cross-sectional View taken longitudinallythrough the parts associated with the valve stem off the tire; Fig. 4 is a view taken uponthe curved dot-dash line 4:-4 of Fig. 8 and looking downwardly so as to disclose a development of a portion of J(he felly band together with the wedge ring and driving blocks, the driving block carried by the rim being shown in cross sec-, tlon; Fig. 5 is a'detail cross sectional view taken upon a longitudinal plane through a portion of thewlieel adjacent to the split in thelrini body; Fig. 6 is a development of the inside portion of the rim shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken through the. portion of the rim shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and illustrating the method ofdisengaging the ends thereof; and Fig. 8 1s a transverse cross-sectional view taken through a modified form of rim.

Describing the parts by reference characters, l represents the telly of a vehicle wheel of the usual or any suitable construction and formed of wood or any other desirable material. In these drawings I have illustrated the felly as surrounded byl a inetallic felly band 2 having at its rearward edge the outwardly turned Bange 3, terminating in the outwardly iiaredledge 4, the opposite edgeot' the telly band being plain and uninterrupted. It will be understood however, that the particular construction ot' the wheel has no bearing upon this invention, wherefore the felly and felly band could be made all in one piece or either' could be omitted entirely so long as a proper seating member is provided for the reception ot' my rim.. Accordingly l have lieieafter denoted these parts generally by the terni circular member.

My improved riiii structure comprises generally a transversely split metallic base, or rim proper, anti a pair of continuous side rings or flanges, Ysaid side rings being formed :for engagement with the clinches or side walls of the tire and the split middle ring or base with the mid-portion ot' the tire, said rings and base being also formed with interengaging portions whereby they may be secured against accidental relative displacement. The base, or rini proper coniprises a cylindrical portion 5 having inwardly turned flanges 6 6 equally spaced from its median line, each of said flanges 'terminating in an outwardly turned extension iL-7, and the whole being bent into substantially circular forni and having closely 'i outwardly to some extent as illustrated in Figs. -2 and 8. Each of the extensions 7-7 is adapted to be surrounded by and inter- "engage with an endless ring 10 having at "its inner edge an inturned lip' 11 fitting 1n lthe corresponding groove 9. The curvature of each ring at the point adjacent to its lip is such as to cause it to rest upon the outer face of the extension 7, while the thickness of the ring is such as to bring its outer surface 'substantially flush with the outer surface of the portion 5. The outside lateral edge of each of thevrings is flanged to engage the side of a tire,the tips of .these flanges being either bent inwardly as at 12--12 in Fig. 2 to engage the beads or clinches of a clincher tire, or turned outwardly as shown at 12-12a in F ig. 8 to engage the sides of a straight wall tir'e.

As is well known the'usual pneumatic tire consists of a U-shaped casing or shoe 15 of rubber or other exible material, bent to annular form so as to define an inwardly opening annular recess. The lips 16-16 of this casing adjacent to the recess are generallyA thickened as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 8, and.

are held infixed relation by a suitable rim which also closesl the space between them. Located within this casing is a flexible inner tube 17 of impervious material which receives the pressure fluid, and this is the portion`of the tire which xnost.frequently requires repairing. By reference to'Figs. 2 and 8, it will be apparent that the portion .5 of the middle ring is of considerable width so as to overlapslightly the lips ofthe casingl at each side of the central recess. Accordingly it will be seen that no matter how rigidly `the tire may adhere to the rings 10-l0, ity will always be possible to remove the inner tube with ease merely by stripping the base ring or rim properaway from these side rings. In fact, it may be found desirable in some cases to secure these rings permanently to the tire casing in the first in stance, as by cementing or vulcanizing, wherefore Fig. 8 may be esteemed to illustrate this condition. lips of the tire casing to the lateral portions ofthe rim base would be very slight because of the small area of contact, and this area of contactcan obviously be reduced as much as one pleases, although it is preferable that the lips of the tire should overlap this base to some extent in order to prevent the inner tube from being forced under pressure into the space between the rings.

The lateral edges of the extensions 7-7- areinteriorly flared or tapered as at 20-20 parts.

The adhesion of the` to form seating surfaces and the entire rim is preferably symmetrical about the median.

line so as to enable it to be applied to the circular member or wheel felly in either position.

The rim is secured about the circular member by having one extension seated upon the ledge 4 which it engages by means of its tapered portion 20, a wedge ring 21 being inserted between the opposite side `of the rim and the adjacent edge of thecircular member, this wedge ringbeing (drawn toward the ledge 4 by suitable means so as simultaneously to draw this rim base upon the wheel and center it thereon.

In the present embodiment this means comprises a plurality of bolts 22 traversing the felly 1 parallel to its axis and having heads 23 at their inner ends overlapping the inner face ofthe felly and the side of the flange 3. The opposite ends of thebolts are threaded for thereception of` nuts-24, said nuts having spherical faces 25 and inwardly projecting central hollow sleeves 26. Between each nut and the adjacent side of the felly is a clip 27 having at one yside 'an extension or toe 28 adapted to-enguge-the wedge ring 2l and at the side of the bolt opposite said toe or projection a heel 29 having a rocking engagement with a wear plate 3() carried by the felly. The outer face of the clip preferably has a spherical socket receiving the spherical face 35 of the nut, and the sleeve 2G is preferably inter-locked with the nut so as to prevent their being separated without impeding their relative rotation. The particular construction of the clip is not claimed in this application, but is claimed in n1 copending application filed May 6, 1912, `ber-ial No. 695,413.

Relative rotation between the rim as a Whole and the circular member on which .it is mounted is preferably prevented by means of a driving block 35 carried by the riin and located between fixed driving blocks 3(536 lsecured to the circular member. the' edge of the wedge ring 2l being notched if necessary as at 37 for the reception of these The driving block is preferably apertured for the reception of the valve stem as' shown at 38, and the wedge ring 2l is severed at one point 'so as to permit 'its expansion and contraction, the abutting ends thereof preferably coming substantially opposite the driving block 35 as shown at 39 in Fig. 4.

While I do not propose to confine myself to the use of this particular means for secur- `lng the rim about the wheel. I have chosen this means for illustration because of the fact that its use renders the device fully op-v erative even though the means hereinafter described for securing the ends of the middle ring against relative movement should fail or be omitted. Then the rim is surrounded by an inflated tire it is obvious that a forcible inward pressure is exerted upon the rim base tending to`collapse the same. This pressure would, of course, be withstood by theabutment of the square-'faces of the rim-ends at the point where the rim is split although it might not be desirable to rely Wholly -upon this abutment for securing the ends together when the rim and its tire are being carried on the running board. Moreover, when the rim is mountedupon the wheel, the inward pressure of the tire is opposed by the expanding effect of the wedge means and this might cause the tightness of the rim upon the felly to depend upon the inflation of the tire, since a careless mechanic might not set up the nuts 24 sufficiently to expand the ring 5 against this pressure. In this case a decrease of the tire pressure might cause the rim to become loose with disastrous results. Furthermore it is desirable to employ some means for expanding the base of the rim into engagement with the side rings when the parts are assembled` so as to facilitate the operation ofthe device. Furthermore this securing expedient inust be suoli as canbe operate-d without the use of complicated tools, have no detachable parts, must bey simple and reliable and iiiust be of suc-h compactness as to be received in the space between the middle ring and the surface of the circular member.

My preferred device for effecting all of' these results is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Secured to the inner face of the rimbase `5 adjacent to one of its ends and between the fianges 6 6 is a forwardljv ex tending metal tongue 50, the end whereof extends beyond such rim-end and is provided with a recess 5l adapted to receive a projection 52 carried by the opposite end of the rim 5. Pivoted to the end of the tongue 50 upon an axis substantially parallel with the axis of the ring is a member or link 53 which preferably has the same width as the tongue 5U, and has its outer free end beveled yas at 5t so as to engage beneath the' complementarily undercut side of a second proj ection or abutment 55 also secured to the inner face of the rim 5 at av distance in the rear of the projection 52. The plate 53 is preferably pivoted to the tongue 5() b v means of a loosely fitting pin, the length of the plate 53 being such as to cause it to abut directly `against the end'of the tongue 5() when in secured position without straining or shearing said pin. The side of the projection 52 adjacent to the abutment is preferably square and radial, as illustrated at' 5G. the opposite side thereof being inclined as at 57 and the cooperating portions of' the slot 51 being shaped complementarily thereto. 7

lVhen it is desired to secure the ends of the rini together, the parts are brought to the relative positions illustrated in Fig. 7, ter which the end of the rim which is in-' nermost is moved vradially outward so as to insert the projection 52 into the recess 51, as illustrated in Fig. During this operation the member acts as a toggle. link to expand the rim-base sufficiently to, permit its ends to pass each other, and after such base is fully expanded the member may act as a. positive lock to prevent the disengagement of the-parts beca-use of the -f'act that its pivotal axis falls within the line joining the face of the abutment 55v and `the base ends, owing to the curvature of the rim. lVhen this is done` the expansion of the rim w'ill be opposed by the shoulder 56 of' the piojection 52. while collapsing of the rim is prevented by the engagement of the tongue 50 with the inclined shoulder 57 of the projection 52 and also by the engagement of the end of the plate 53 with the side of the abutment 35. v

I have illustrated the abutting ends 8 of the split rim base as spaced 18()o from the valve aperture and therefore an equal distance from the severed ends 39 of the wedge ring. This arrangement is not of course essential for the1 purpose of my invention. lll'hile I liavedescribed my invention in detail and pointed out at considerable lengt-h the' particular constructions which my experience indicates as being most desirable together with the reasons "for employing such constructions, it will be appa-rent Ythat a great many changes in form, construction, arrangement, and operation of parts c an be employed without departing from the scope of my invention or losing the advantages thereof. Accordingly, I do not restrict myself to the construction herein shown and illustrated and described, except as the same may be specifically recited in the claims hereto annexed or ina-y be rendered necessary b v the prior state of the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The combination with a transversely split rim; ofv continuous tire-retaining` flanges, said rim being adapted in expanded condition to interengage and laterally interlock with said, flanges, and in contracted condition to release the same; and means on the respective ends of said rim adapted to snap intov interlocking engagement in the expanded condition of said rim so as to prevent relative longitudinal displacement of such ends.`

2. The combination with a `,transversely split rim: of continuous tire-retaining flanges, said i'iin being adapted in expanded j condition to inter-engage and laterally interlock with said fianges and in contracted condition to release the same.: and a tongue projecting beyond one end of said rim and adapted to snap into interlocking engage- A ment with thel other rim-end in said rims expanded condition so as to prevent relative circumferential movement of such ends.

3. 'l`he combination with a transversely split rim'; of continuous tire-retaining flanges. said rim being adapted in expanded condition to inter-engageand laterally interlock with said flanges in both directions and in contractedl condition to release the same: a tongue projecting beyond one end of' said rim and having a recess; and a projection on the other end of' said rimadapted to snap into engagement with such recess in said rim`s expanded condition.

4. 'lhe combination with a transversely split rim: of continuous tire-retaining flanges. said rim being adapted in expanded condition to inter-engage and laterally interlock with said flanges in both directions and in contracted condition to4 release the same: 'a tongue projecting beyond one end of said rim and having a recess; a projection on the other end of said rim adapted to snap into engagement `with such recess in said rims expanded condition; and means adapted thus to expand said rim.

The combination with a transversely split rim; of' continuous tire-retaining flanges, said rim being adapted in expanded condition to inter-engage and laterally interlock With said flanges in both directions and in contracted condition to release the same; a tongue projecting beyond one end of said rim andrhaving a recess; a projection on the other end of said rim adapted to snap into engagement with such recess ,in said rim's expanded condition; and means carried `by said rim-ends, respectively, and adapted to co-operate thus to expand said rim. f

6. The combination with a transversely split rim; of j continuous tire-retaining flanges, said rim being adapted in expanded condition to inter-engage With said flangesv and in contracted condition to release the same: a tongue projecting beyond one end oi said rim and` adapted to snap into interlocking engagement with the other rinnend in said rims expanded condition, so as to prevent relative movement ot such ends; and means adapted thus to expand said rim, said meansincluding a member pivotally connected at one end with said first-named rimend, and an abutment on the other rim-end adapted to co-operate with the free end ot said member.

7. 'llhe combination with a transversely split rim; of continuous tire-retaining flanges, said rim being adapted in expanded condition to inter-engage with said flanges and in contracted condition to release the same; a tongue projecting beyond one end ot' said rim and having a recess; a`piojec tion on the other end of said rim adapted to engage such recess in saidrrims expanded other rim-end adapted to co-operate with said member.

8. The combination with a transversely splitA rim: of' continuous tire-retaining flanges, said rim being adapted in expanded condition to inter-engage with said flanges 'and in contracted condition to release the same: a tongue projecting beyond one end of said rim and having a recess; a. projection on the other end of' said rim adapted to engage such recess in said rims expanded condition; and means adapted thus to ex,- pand said rim, said means including a member pivoted to the end of said tongue, and an abutment on the other rim-end adapted to co-operate with said member.

9. The combination with a transversely split rim; of' continuous tire-retaining flanges, said rim being adapted in expanded condition to inter-engage with said flanges and in contracted condition to release the same; a tongue 4projecting beyond one end of said rim and having a recess;`tWo longi tudinally spaced projections on the other end of said rim, the first of said projections being adapted to engage the recess in said tongue; and a link pivoted to the end of said tongue and adapted to abut with its free end against said second projection, whereby said rim may be expanded.

10. The combination with a transverselysplit tire-supporting rim; of a tongue projecting beyond one end of said rim, said tongue and the other end of said rim lbeing provided with elements adapted to interengage upon relative radial movement of the rim-ends so as normally to prevent circumferential separation of such ends; and means adapted to 'secure said tongue and opposed rim-end against radial separation,l

saidmeans including a member pivotally q connected With said first-named rim-end, and an abutment on the other rim-end adapted to cti-operate with said member.

11. The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim; of a tongue projecting beyond' oneend of said rim, said tongue and the other end of said rim being provided with elements adapted to interengage upon relative radial movement ot the rim-ends so as normally to prevent circumferential separation of such ends; and means adapted to secure said tongue and opposed rim-end against radial separation, said means including a member pivoted to the end of said tongue, and an abutment on the other rim-end adapted to co-operate with said member.

12. 'lhe combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim; of a tongue projecting bevond one end of said rim, said i io tongue and the other end of said rim being provided 'with elements adapted to interengage and prevent circumferential separation of such ends when the latter are in alignment; and 'means adapted to force said rim-ends thus into alignment and thereupon to secure said tongue and opposed rim-end against disengagement. f

13. The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim; of a tongue projecting beyond one end of said rim;A said tongue and the other end of said rim being provided witheleme-nts adapted to inter-engage and prevent circumferential separation of such ends when the latter are in alignment; and means carriedby said rimends, respectively, said means being adapted to force said rim-ends thus into alignment and thereupon to secure said tongue and opposed rim-end against disengagement.

14. The combination with a. transversely split tire-supporting rim; of a tongue projecting beyond oneend of said rim; said tongue and the other end'of said rim being provided with elements adapted to inter-engage and prevent circumferential separation of such ends when' the latter are in alignment; and means adapted to force said ri1n-ends thus into alignment and thereuponto secure said tongue and opposed rimend against disenga ement, said means including a member pivota-lly connected with said first-named rim-end, and an abutment on the other rim-end adapted to cooperate with said member.

15. 'The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim; of a tongue proter-engage and prevent circumferential sep.

eration of such ends when the latter are in alignment; and means adaptedto torce said rim-ends thus into alignment and thereupon to secure said tongue and opposed rim-end againstdisengagement; said means includ-` ing a member pivoted to the end of said.

v tongue, and an abutment on the other rimend adapted to co-operate with said member.

16. 'llhe` combination vwith a transversely split tire-supporting rim; of a tongue extending beyond one end ot'v said rim and having a recess; and a projection on the other 'end of said Arim adapted to snap into engagement with said recess when said riniends .are in alignment.` e i 1'?. The combination with: a vtransversely split tire-supportingjrim;` ot a tongue eX- tending beyond one end of said rim and having a recess; a projection on the other end of said rim adapted to snap into en. gagernent with said recess when said rimends are in alignment; .and means .adapted to secure said tongue with the recess therein thus in engagement with said projection.

18. The combination witha` transversely split tire-supporting rim; of a tongue projecting beyond one end of said rim .and havin a recess; a project-ion on the other end o said-rim adapted to snap into engagement with such recess when said rimends are in alignment; and means adapted to -force said rim-ends thus into alignment.

'19. The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim; of a tongue pro- `jecting beyond one end of said rim and iaving a recess; a projection on the other end of said rim adaptedV to snap into'engagement With such recess when said rimends are in alignment; and means carried by said rim-ends, respectively, and adapted to co-operate to force said ends thus into alignment.

20. 'llhe combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim; of a tongue projecting beyond one end of said rim and having a recess; a projection on the other end of said rim adapted to engage such recess when said rim-ends are in alignment; and means adapted to force said rim-ends thus into alignment, said means including a member pivotally connected with said first-named rim-end, and an abutment' on the other rimend adapted to co-operate with said member.

2l. The combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim; of a tongue prointo alignment, said means including a member pivoted to the end of said tongue; and

an abutment on the other rim-end adapted to jecting beyond one end of said rim and. having a recess; two'longitudinally spaced projections on the other end of said rim, the first of said projections being adapted to engage the recess in said tongue; and a link pivoted to the end of said tongue and adapted to abut with its Jreeend against said second projection; whereby said rimends 'may be forced into alignment.

. 23. ,'lhe combination with a transversely split tire-supporting rim; of a tongue projecting beyond one end ot said rim and having a recess; two longitudinally spaced projections on the other end of said rim, the rst ofl said projections being adapted to engage the recess insaid tongue; and a link pivoted to the end of said tongue and adapted to abut with its `free end againstsaid second projection, whereby said rim-endsv may 24. The combination. with a pneumatic tire of the type having a substantially U- shaped outer casing bent to substantially annulai: form and an inner tube within said casing adapted to receive the pressure Huid, the lips of said casing being spaced apart, 'of a rim comprising a pair of continuous side rings, one for each side of said casing, and a discontinuous middle ring adapted to bridge 'the space between said side rings, a recessed tongue secured to the inner face of said middle ring adjacent to one of its ends and projectingbeyond such end, a projection on the other end of said ring and adapted to be received in such recess, I each of said side rings being ot a width not greater than the thickness of the casing, means whereby said side rings may be detachably secured to said middle ring, and means whereby said rim may be secured about a wheel.

25. ln a pneumatic tired wheel, the combination, with a metallic split ring having a substantially cylindrical outer surface and having depressions at the sides ofsaid cylindrical portion, the lateral portions of said ring outside of said depressions forming sup porting portions, of a continuous side ring adapted to surround each of said supporting portions, the face of each ring adjacent to its inner edge being substantially cylindrical and the outer edge of each of said side rings being deflected outwardly to engage the side of a tire, a tongue secured to the inner tace or' said middle ring adjacent to one of its ends and projecting beyond such end, said tongue having a recess therein, a pro-y jection secured to the other end of said ring and adapted to be received in such recess, and means for detachably securing said projection in said recess.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature inthe presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD S. BRYANT. lVitnesses HAROLD E. SMITH, BRENNAN B. WEST. 

